Chapter 64

64. An Improvised Family Name

* * *

After a long absence, Yoo-beom and his sister tidied up the house.

Unlike Cheon Dowoon, they didn't bother preparing for winter.

They didn't care that the vine roof would melt under the Acidic Snow. They wouldn't mind even if the house was completely destroyed.

They could always build a new one in the spring. The siblings, with their free-spirited nature, weren't as attached to the house as Cheon Dowoon was.

The siblings gathered the fallen leaves from the vine roof and threw them into the sea. They circled the rocks, leaving their scent in various places.

That was the extent of their house management. Just by marking the area with their scent, monsters wouldn't dare to approach.

Finally, they stuck the Yellow Ore they had received from Cheon Dowoon in a suitable spot.

The subtly glowing ore gave off a lighthouse-like feel, just as the siblings had wanted.

"Not bad. I like it. Now that we've done everything, shall we go play in the forest?"

Late at night, they flew towards Cheon Dowoon's house.

They deliberately left at night. They figured the fence would be finished by now, and they wanted to fully enjoy the atmosphere.

"It's done, just as I thought."

The golden fence was visible from high above. The house, glowing with a greenish light, was also immediately visible.

The siblings were puzzled by the house's fluorescent glow.

'What is that?'

Landing in the yard, the siblings were stunned by the sight of Cheon Dowoon's house. Yoo-beom hesitated before circling the house.

He looked for any monsters hiding somewhere, but there were none.

"This is... this is quite..."

What were they supposed to say? The siblings were speechless at the sight that exceeded their expectations.

They had expected the fence to glow, but they hadn't expected the house to glow so brightly as well.

The drooping cobwebs and the shadows they cast added the final touch to the atmosphere.

"You're here?"

Just then, Cheon Dowoon, who had been washing off the Fluorescent Sap in the waterfall valley, greeted the siblings.

"The house has... changed quite a bit. What happened?"

"Nothing much. Just preparing for winter. The house will collapse when it snows. More importantly, you came at the right time."

Cheon Dowoon went inside and brought out the beaker with Root buried in it.

Root, exhausted from the trip to the cave area, was quietly sleeping inside the beaker.

"I need to name this little guy, but I can't think of anything good. Give me a few suggestions."

"A name? Okay. But shouldn't you name Root? You've known him since he was a Rootlet."

"I was going to, but the candidates I came up with don't seem very good."

"So you have some ideas in mind. Tell us. Let's vote."

At the mention of voting, Cheon Dowoon opened his mouth.

"The first name comes from where he lived. He lived in a small cave, so I took that and came up with 'Cave Root.'"

The siblings' expectant expressions instantly darkened. Cheon Dowoon continued.

"I have another candidate. Taking the first and last syllables of Mandragora, 'Man-gora.'"

The siblings' expressions darkened even further. Cheon Dowoon nodded.

Even he thought the names weren't good. That's why he wanted the siblings' help.

"No other candidates?"

"There are. This little guy has quite the spirit. Combining the name Mandragora with his high spirit, to give it a dragon-like feel, 'Drago—'"

"We'll name him."

Yoo-beom cut off Cheon Dowoon. He had a feeling that listening to any more candidates would just be splitting hairs.

"Give us some time. I'll think about what suits him with my sister."

If they left the naming to Cheon Dowoon just because he had a bit of a connection, he felt like the Root would be pitied.

Cheon Dowoon also didn't like the name candidates he had come up with, so he agreed to the siblings' suggestion.

As they finished discussing the name, a Gate opened in front of the house.

Soon after, Kim, the manager, emerged, clutching a large bag. As it was late at night, he had come straight from home, and he was once again wearing the bear pajamas his niece had bought him.

"Mr. Cheon, I've discovered something. A great discovery! I came to tell you about it..."

Kim, the manager's excited voice gradually faded. His gaze was fixed on the house visible over Cheon Dowoon's shoulder.

His eyes shook. His mouth fell open. He took a step back without realizing it. Seeing this, Nam Ki-seok nodded.

'I know that feeling.'

Having gone through the same process himself, he fully understood Kim, the manager's feelings.

Had there been an alien invasion in that house? Even knowing it didn't make sense, Kim, the manager, couldn't help but think that.

'No, let's not ask. I didn't see anything. It's best to pretend I don't know anything.'

Not getting involved was the key to a long life. Kim, the manager, decided to pretend he didn't know anything.

He thought so, but he couldn't help but glance at the house.

"How's Oh Bong-soo doing?"

"Ah, I took him to my house to recuperate. He's making good progress."

"That's good. So that's not why you came. What brings you here so late at night?"

"I wanted to show you this."

Kim, the manager, took out a small glass bottle from his bag. Inside was a thin, silver wire.

"It's a Rootlet of the Metal Mandrake. It naturally fell off during the examination. When it separated from the main body, the Mandragora components dissolved, leaving only the Liquid metal component."

Cheon Dowoon's eyes lit up with interest at Kim, the manager's words. Kim Nari also listened intently, as it was something related to her as well.

"So, as the Rootlets fall off, the Liquid metal is lost, and it returns to its original form?"

"That's not it. The amount of Liquid metal that is lost is regenerated by the main body. It seems to be generating the metal itself within its body."

Kim Nari was surprised at Kim, the manager's words. That was a function that Kim Nari didn't have.

"According to my investigation, this seems to be a recent change in its body. I think it's a change that occurred while consuming a lot of Magical energy."

Liquid metal was a rare metal that was said to be no longer obtainable. The fact that it was producing it on its own, even in small quantities, was astonishing.

"That's a great discovery. Is that why you rushed over here?"

"That's part of it. But what's even more amazing is what I'm about to tell you. The Explosion Spell on the feathers. I've been working on a formula to see if we can use this Liquid metal as a medium."

Kim, the manager, opened his mouth with an excited expression. The siblings, hearing words related to them, moved closer.

"I still can't completely undo the Spell. But if we use this Liquid metal as a medium to create a formula, I think we can temporarily undo it. We can make the Spell disappear for about three days a week."

The siblings were shocked. Just what Kim, the manager, had said was enough for them to set foot on their homeland.

"When will that Spell be possible?"

Yoo-beom asked. A month later. Maybe a year later. Three years later would be fine too. Even ten years later would be good. If there was hope, they could wait as long as it took.

In response to the siblings' question, Kim, the manager, confidently patted the bag he was holding.

"It's possible right now."

Knowing this would happen, he had brought all the necessary materials. Kim, the manager, smiled with that expression.

"Why drag it out? Let's start right away."

He took out over thirty materials from his bag. After arranging the materials in their respective positions, he placed the paper with the formula written on it in the center.

"You two, please stand in front of this. Yes, like that. Don't move until I say it's okay."

Even as they did as they were told, the siblings had dazed expressions.

What they had been prepared to wait ten years for was now right in front of them. They wore blank expressions at the unbelievable reality.

As Kim, the manager, activated his ability, the formulas written on the paper floated up.

The Liquid metal, which had become the medium for the Spell, melted down with a crackling sound.

"Once we get out of the Gate, we should go buy clothes first. I know a clothing store, so we can go there."

The siblings didn't answer. They were tense, not moving, afraid that Kim, the manager, would fail.

Cheon Dowoon quietly smiled and looked at Kim Nari.

"Kim Nari. How about you come with us this time?"

"M-me, too?"

"Yes. There's no reason to avoid going outside the Gate anymore."

The laboratory no longer existed. Even knowing that, Kim Nari hesitated to answer.

"Is... is Ahjussi going too?"

She was scared to go alone. Asking out of that anxiety, Cheon Dowoon nodded. Seeing that, Kim Nari felt relieved.

Cheon Dowoon on the right. The new siblings on the left. If they all went together, she wouldn't be scared.

"What? Kim Nari, are you disappointed? You don't need this uncle?"

"Ah! Nam Ki-seok Uncle! It would be nice if Uncle came too. It would be nice if we all gathered together and held hands."

With Nam Ki-seok joining, she felt like she had gained a million soldiers.

'An outing. This is an outing. We're all going on an outing outside the Gate.'

Kim Nari smiled with as much anticipation as the siblings.

* * *

Park Sa-jang, the owner of the clothing store in the slum.

He would often peek outside the store, looking around.

'Where did that little rascal Oh Bong-soo go? I told him to go get measured at the Hunter Association, but why haven't I heard from him yet?'

It had been a few days since he had given him the fare to go to the association, as it didn't seem like he had a cold.

Park Sa-jang was worried about the lack of news.

As he was peeking outside the store, Park Sa-jang's expression hardened as he saw half a dozen men approaching.

They were a gang that had been causing trouble in the area recently. They headed straight for the store, as if Park Sa-jang was their target.

"Hey, Park Sa-jang. Have you thought about what we talked about before?"

"Ah, well... I have no intention of closing my business. I'm not planning on giving up the store."

"Don't be stubborn and think about it. We said we'd give you a generous premium."

"Thank you for the offer, but I..."

"Big Bro, step aside. Slum guys like him don't understand unless you speak their language."

The man next to him grabbed Park Sa-jang by the collar and threw him.

Park Sa-jang, thrown onto the street, squeezed his eyes shut. He braced himself for the impact with the asphalt, but someone caught him and prevented him from falling.

"Are you okay?"

"Huh...? Y-you are..."

The big spender who had come before. Park Sa-jang was surprised to see Cheon Dowoon. That expression soon turned to worry.

"Thank you for helping me, but please leave quickly. Those guys are a famous gang in this area. There are even Awakened among them. You'll be in danger too."

Park Sa-jang whispered quietly. He had intended to speak only loud enough for Cheon Dowoon to hear, but the gang with the Awakened among them heard everything.

They raised their heads with arrogant expressions.

"You think you can interfere with our business and just leave?"

"Uh-uh, can't do that. You seem determined to get involved, openly interfering like that. What family are you from?"

They spoke with menacing expressions. Even seeing a young child like Kim Nari mixed in with the group, they accused them of being a gang and tried to find fault.

They seemed to be trying to pressure those around him, since they appeared to be Park Sa-jang's acquaintances.

"Hey, you there. Kid. What's your affiliation?"

"A-affiliation?"

"Yeah. You know that depending on your answer, this could turn into a war, right?"

They didn't hesitate to intimidate even a child.

Kim Nari was flustered. At the word "affiliation," the first thing that came to mind was Hanbit Laboratory.

Kim Nari was a Chimera affiliated with that place. But she couldn't say what was recorded in her mind.

As she hesitated, unable to answer, Cheon Dowoon approached and stroked her head.

Cheon Dowoon looked at the members who had crossed the Gate with him. The first thing he saw was the avian siblings, who were watching the situation with interested expressions.

To cross the Gate, Yoo-beom had taken on a human form, even shaping his head for the first time in a while. Yoo Ji-ah had also taken off her bone helmet.

Yoo-beom without his bird head and Yoo Ji-ah without her bone helmet. It was unfamiliar, but the siblings' unique golden eyes, which gave off an eerie feeling, remained the same.

Next to them was Nam Ki-seok, making the sign of the cross near his chest. Kim, the manager, was following along, doing the same.

Kim Nari was standing there with an anxious expression, and even Park Sa-jang, who had been caught up in the situation, was there.

Cheon Dowoon looked at his group before turning his gaze to the gang.

They had asked what family he was from. Cheon Dowoon answered the gang members.

"We're the Coconut Family."

"Pfft. Ah, sorry."

Yoo-beom chuckled softly from behind before clearing his throat. Kim Nari's eyes lit up at the words "Coconut Family."

'F-family...!'

Family. A warmer feeling than the word "tribe." Something close-knit, sharing the same meals. So that's it. I was part of the Coconut Family.

Kim Nari looked at the gang members. She hesitated before taking a step forward, confidently placing her hands on her hips and shouting.

"I... I'm Coconut Family!"

Kim Nari confidently declared her affiliation.